Friction clutch device



R. A. CARLSON FRICTION CLUTCH DEVICE March 3l, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May .'5, 1944 \WSN son

4%? QW s March 31 1953 R. A. CARLSON FRICTICN CLUTCH DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1944 MalCh 31, 1953 R. A. cARLsoN FRICTIoN CLUTCH DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May' 3', 1944 lill.

Patented Mar. 31, 1953 FRICTION CLUTCH DEVICE Raymond A. Carlson, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois t ApplieationMay s, 1944, serial No. 533.841

(cl. 19a-s6) I Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical power transmissions and particularly to transmissions whichare adaptedto provide-a single speed forllward and a single speedreverse. This invention fis-particularly useful in'` combination with a marine enginefor propelling a vessel although it may be utilized in industrial equipment such as cranes, derricks and the like.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a forward and reverse mechanism in which friction devices are used to make the for- 1 vwardand reverse drives effective, the control for `the' friction devices being such that little or `no power is' required to maintain either device `in operation or to maintain the transmission in neutral.

" A specific object of this invention is to provide a control mechanism for a friction coupling such yas a friction clutch or a friction brake which requires power to energize the coupling but which Vmay be locked mechanically' after energization so Aas to relieve the energizing means of further load.

Another Aspecific object of this invention is to provide a friction coupling for a relatively large or heavy transmission wherein one of the elements of the coupling which is subject to the Vgreatest wear may be removed and replaced without tearing down the entire transmission.

Another specific object of this invention is to -provide a forward and reverse transmission for f heavy torque loads wherein the torque transmitkting elements may be cooled to prevent overheating.

" AThese and other objects of this invention will ""bcome apparent from theV following detailed de'scription when taken together withY the acconipanyingdrawings'in which:

"Fig. 1 is a section through a complete transmissionv embodying a preferred form of this in- .ventio'm Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the transmission taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken along lines l.val- 3 of Fig. 1,

`Fig. 4V is a schematic transverse section through is spline'dtothe driving gearof a reversing gear .set l2 and to which are also bolted internally toothed driving segments I3. vSaid segments VI3 drive..one element of.a clutch I4 which' as 4Will behereinafter explained is effective to Vprovide a forward drive through the transmission. `C operatingwith gearing I2 is a brake I5 which is effective tovestablish -a reverse drive through the gearing. Between clutch I4 and brake I5 is positioned a movable pressure plate I6 which is eifective to make either"V the clutch or the brake operative, pressure plate I6 being controlled by vmeans of a plurality of springs I'I which in turn are energized by a force-multiplying lever system I 8 through a central control collar I9 and a shift collar 2S, the latter collar being positioned axially by means of an exterior controlinot shown).

, Power from gearing I2 is imparted through an intermediate shaft 2I to a reduction gearing 22 whence it passes, after multiplication, to an output shaft 23. I

Gearing I2 is comprised of an input gear 24 lwhich meshes with a gear 25, the latter being one of a pair of cluster gears, the second gear 26 of the pair meshing withV an idler 2l (Fig. 4) which in turn meshes with an output gear 28 formed on the forward end of intermediate shaft 2|. The cluster gears are mounted for rotation with a pair of reaction plates 29 and 30, said reaction plates being connected together so as to form a unitary whole. Reaction plate 29 takes the reaction of the applying force for clutch I4 and reaction plate 30 takes the reaction of the applying force for vbrake I5. When clutch Iltis operated, both reaction plates and the `cluster gears revolve with the input and output gears 2i and 2S respectively as a singlel unit; when brake I5 is operated, reaction plates 29 and V3l] are stationary so as to cause cluster gear`s`25 and 26 to act as countershaft gears, and driving disc II and output shaft 2| are then rotatable relative to the reaction plates.

It will be apparent that when all the gears are rotated as a unit, that is, when clutch I4 is operated, shaft 2l will rotate at the same speed and in the same direction as input flange I0, and

Athat when brake I5 is operatedso as to hold gears'25 and 26 fromV revolving about the axis of shaft 2| a reverse drive will be effected betweendriving flange I0 and intermediate shaft 2l.

Clutch I4 is comprised of an action `member in the form`of a' plurality of annularY sectors 3l (Figs. 1 andV A2) "eachf of which is formed'atfits outer` periphery Vwith teeth 32 vengaging internal turning of the ange I0.

teeth on ring segments I3. Said ring segments I3 are removably secured preferably by means of bolts 33 to driving disc II. It will be apparent that segments 3I are free to move axially a short distance to adjust themselves to the location of reaction plate 29. The reaction plate is provided with a shoulder 29a projecting laterally therefrom and into the space between the plate and the pressure plate I6 and engaging the inner edges of the sectors 3I to slidably support and position the sectors 3| radially of the axis of rotation of the driving disc I I.

The housing 34 of the transmission has an opening 35 in the upper forward' portion thereof which is covered by means of a plate 36 bolted to housing 34. Said plate 35 has a radially inwardly extending flange 31 to which a relatively wide ring segment 33 is secured by means of bolts 39. Plate 36 and ring segment 38 are removable,

i thereby exposing bolts 33 of the clutch and permitting a tool to be inserted into the opening -to loosen the bolts and associated ring segments I3. Thisv permits annular segment 3l nearest the opening 35 to be removed from the transmission and replaced without taking the entire transmisysion apart. The annular segment adjacent segment I3 may be 'removed next by turning driving flange IIJ until the said segment is in substantially the position occupied by segment I3 before it was removed. When it is so positioned, its attaching bolts may likewise be withdrawn and the segment removed and replaced by another segment. This procedure is repeated until all of the segments I3 have been removed and replaced.

iSince a new segment is bolted in immediately after the old one has been removed there is no serious unbalance created to render diicult the Thus a worn clutch maybe repaired or replaced without tearing down the entire transmission.

Ring sectors 38 of brake I5 are similarly provided with internal teeth 40 which engage external' teeth 4I on annular segments 42 so as to hold said segments against rotation at all times. A second pressure plate 43 is positioned between the segments, the first pressure plate I6 as well asthe second pressure plate 43 being splined at 44 to an axially extending flange on reaction plate 29. When pressure plate I6 is moved to the right (Fig. 1) it packs both annular segments 42 and the second pressure plate 43 against reaction plate 30, and since annular segments 42 are held againstV rotation, allv of the packed elements will likewise be held against rotation. The'reaction plate is provided with a shoulder 36a projecting into the space between the plate 30 and the pressure plate 43 and engaging the radially inner edges of the segments 42 to position the segments 42 radially'of the axis of rotation of the driving disc II. The pressure plate 43 has a shoulder 43a engaging the inner edges of the segments 42 between the plate 43 and pressure plate I6 to slidably support and position these segments radially of the axis of rotation of the driving discl I I.

A plurality of segments -42 is used as well as a corresponding number of ring sectors 40, the top ring sector being attached to plate 36 as previously described and being removable through opening in housing 34. The method of removing ring sectors however differs somewhat Y. from the method of removing ring sectors I3 inasmuch as'the ring sectors 46 are secured to the housing and therefore are not ordinarily rotatable. It will be observed, however, that each ring sector is provided with a tongue 45 which ts into a groove 4:6 in housing 34 and is slidable in said groove in a circumferential direction. By removing bolts 41, the ring sectors 38 are free to move circumferentially and hence may be slid around until they occupy the position of the top sector whereupon they may be removed from the housing and replaced. The turning of the sectors may be accomplished in any suitable manner as for example by momentarily applying the brake so as to lock sectors 42 to the pressure plates IiG and 43 and then rotating driving ange I0. Since the bolts 41 have been removed there is nothing to prevent the rotation of the entire brak-e assembly.

The control means for the clutch and brake will now' be described. Pressure plate I6 is bolted to a plurality of axially extending pins 4'8 which pass through suitable openings 49 and 56 in pressure plate 43 and reaction plate 3U, respectively. The protruding end 5I of each pin is of reduced diameter and forms a shoulder 52 against which a channel-shaped ring 53 is adapted to bear. Said ring 53 is provided with openings through which the portion 5I of the pin passes.V A substantially identical channel-shaped ring 54 is also mounted on the reduced diameter portion 5I of pins 48 with the open portion of the channel facing the open portion of the channel of the ring `53. A washer 55, held by a bolt 56, provides an abutment for ring 54. A helical spring I1 is passed over each pin and holds the rings 53 and 54 against their respective abutments `52 and '55. Additional springs are inserted at spaced intervals as required tor supply the requisite pressure.

Concentrically mounted with respect to intermediate shaft 2I is a sleeve 58 which has a radial Iiiange 59 formed thereon, said dange in turn having an axial flange 60 formed at the outer periphery thereof. Said flange i60 is machined to provide a smooth cylindrical surface 6I on which channel-shaped rings 53 and 54 are adapted to slide. It is apparent that if pressure is exerted upon ring 53 to the right as shown in Fig. 1, that pressure will be transmitted through spring I 1, ring `54 and washer 55 to pins 48, thereby moving pressure plate I6 in the same direction to operate brake I5. If pressure is exerted on ring 54 to the left as shown in Fig. l, the pressure will be transmitted through spring I 1 and ring 53 to shoulder 52 on pin 48 and remove said pin 48 to the left, thereby moving pressure plate I6 to the left to operate clutch I 4.

The means for exerting pressure in either direction upon rings 53 and 54 comprises a plurality of pins 62 which pass through both rings 53 and 54 and are alternately spaced in said ring with pins 48. Said pins 62 are provided with heads 63 abutting ring 53 and with washers 64 abutting ring 54, washers 64 being xed on pins 62 by means of snap rings 65. Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be observed that pins 62 pass between a pair of spaced lugs 66 formed on ange 60 and are flattened so as to pass between a pair of levers 61 likewise located between lugs 66. A pin 6B connects levers' Gland the attened end of pins 62 to provide a pivoted connection therebetween. Saidlevers 61 are in turn pivotally mounted on pins v65 which are anchored in lugs 66. A secon-d lever 1D is also pivoted by means of pin 1I in lugs 66, said pin 1I passing through arcuate openings 61a (Fig. 1)' in levers 61 to permit relative movement therebetween. Said lever 10 1s also connected to levers 61 through sliding bearing blocks 12 anda pin 13, the bearing'blocks permitting pin 13 to move radially with respect to pivot pin69 but prevent relativetangential movementtherebetween. Similar bearing blocks 14 are used to support pins 68 in levers 91, the latterA blocks being required because of the geometry of the connections, thatk is, pins 62 are constrained to move rectilinearly whereas levers 61 are pivoted and hence would have a curvilinearA movement. Lever 19 Vextends inwardly and passes into an `aperture 15 in the axially slidable sleeve I9 ,mountedA onV sleeve 5'8. Actual contact between the end or lever 10 and aperture 15 is made by means of a roller 11 Vsoas toreduce frictionl at this point.4 In the form chosen* for illustration there 'will be six sets of lugs66, levers 614 .and levers 19'.

From `vthe' description thusfar given it will be' apparent that movement: of sleeveV i9 to the left as seen in Fig. 1 will cause the end lever 19 to move likewise to the left, the lever pivoting about its pin 1|. This leftward movement will be transmitted through pin 13 and bearing blocks 12'to the lower Vendsloflevers 91 which will likewise pivot about theirpins 99 in a clockwise manner. This pivotal movement will then be transmitted through the Aupper ends of levers 61 and bearing block 14 to pins 69 and the ends of pins 52, thereby moving pins 62 axially to the right asshown in Fig. 1. This movement as will vbe recalled results in the operation of brake I5. Similarly a Vmovement of sleeve I9 in the opposite direction will result in a movement of pins 62 to the left as seen in Fig. 1 which movement results in the operation of clutch I4. Because of the relative locations of pivot pins 6.9 and Hand the connecting pin 13, a force multiplication will be eiected betweenr roller 11 and pin 62.

Axialmovement of sleeve I9 is effected in the following manner. One or more circular openingsi18 are provided in sleeve I9, the diameter of the openings'being greater than the thickness of the sleeve. A ball 19 is retained in said opening 1B, and since the diameter of the ball-is greater than the thickness of the sleeve, a portion o'fit willv project beyond the surface of the sleeve. Aring .8'0 is keyed as at 9| to sleeve I9 so as to be rotatable therewith but movable .axially thereon. Said ring 99 is provided with a depression 82 in which the protrudingkportion of vball 19 is received. Ring 99 is connected to an exterior control rng83 by means of a ball bearing 94. Said exterior control ring 93 may be moved axially .by Vany .suitable exterior control linkage (not shown) between a shoulder 95 on sleeve I9 and a snap ring 96 located near `the right hand (Fig. 1) extremity of vsleeve I9. As shown in Fig. 1, control ring 99 is in the position corresponding to neutral and in this position it will be observed that levers 19 and 61 are aligned and are in substantially the mid-position of their range of movement. In this position of the levers pressure plate I6 is spaced from both reaction plates 29 and 30 a sufficient distance so that neither clutch sectors 3| nor brake sectors 42 are clamped. When exterior control ring 83 is moved to the left as seen in Fig. 1, the leftward movement will be transmitted through ball bearing 84 to ring 80 and then through ball 19 and its conl tact with openings 18 to sleeve I9. Ring 80 and sleeve I9 will move together until ball 19 is aligned with a depression 81 in sleeve I9, whereupon the ball will move into this depression and will permit ring 80 to move relative to sleeve 6 I9 until the ring abuts shoulder 85. While ring and sleeve I9 are moving together the forcerequired to compress springs |1 to actuate brake I5 must be supplied from the exterior through.

exterior control ring 83. After ball 19 is dropped into depressioni, however, and ring 8|) is moved relatively to sleeve I9 so that its depression B2 is no longer aligned with ball 19., the pressure of springs |1 is taken on sleeve I9 and the4 exterior control ring 83 is thus'relieved `of the operating pressure. This means that althoughxaoertain amount of force is required to bring the ,brake into operation, it is not necessary to maintain thatr force in order to maintain `the brake operatecl.` The force required to bring the brake into operation is of course reduced due to the force-multiplying eifect produced by the .double lever arrangement.

Movement of control ring B3A to vthelright `:as seen in Fig. 1 will similarly `result in :a simultaneous Imovementlof sleeve |:94 with ring "83 until ball 19 'drops into arecess 89, whereupon y'sleeve I9 will stop and ring `8|) will move relative to.

sleeve I9 until it strikes snap ring :86, the movementiof ring 80 relative to I9 resulting `in the locking of ball 19 in recess 88 and relieving the exterior control ring 93 .of the .force requiredto maintain clutch |4 inengagement.4

Gearing 22 is comprised of a drive pinionv 89 which is formed directly on intermediate shaft 2| and a driven gear 99 of larger diameter `than gear 89 so as to provide av torquemultiplication between intermediate Vshaft 2| and output shaft. Y 23. Said gears 99 and 99 are vmounted by means of suitable bearings in a double-walled double- Vlated around chamber 96. Chamber 96 is in communication with the gearing and with the various bearingsand is supplied through a breather opening 99, or by removing the cover of casing 9|, with sufficient lubricant to lubricate'the gears and bearings.

means of a pump |to the gears 24, 25, 29, 21 and 28 andthen into the space between Vshaft 2| and sleeve 58. From there it passes rearwardly through bearing |93 and aside opening |92 in `a continuation of chamber 99 shown in Fig. 1 at |91.l Inner wall 93 has opening |99 (Fig. 3) through which the lubricant returns to chamber 96.

` It will be apparent that in the above construc- Y tion the axial thrusts `produced by engaging and disengaging the clutch and brake are transmitted through sleeve 58 to bearing |03 and to the housing 34 and are not imparted to the driving flange |9 and the prime mover.

It is understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of this invention and that the scope of this invention is not to be limited thereto but is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power transmitting mechanism, a coupling device comprising a rotatable drive member, a plurality of segments of friction elements having a driving connection with said drive member, a driven member comprising a reaction plate, and a pressure plate spaced from the reaction plate,

The lubricant in chamber 96 is forced through ak central opening |94 in shaft 2| by aesaerr said friction elements being positioned between the reaction and pressure plates and adapted to be clamped therebetween, means for centering the friction elements with respect to the rotatable drive member, said means including an anti-friction support on the drive member for the reaction plate to locate the reaction plate accurately relative to the drive member, and a shoulder on the reaction plate projecting into the space between the reaction plate and pressure plate, said shoulder serving to position the friction elements radially of the axis of rotation of the drive membei'.

' 2. In a power transmitting mechanism, a coupling device comprising a rotatable drive member, a plurality of segments of friction elements having a driving connection with said drive member, a driven member comprising a reaction plate, and a pressure plate spaced from the reaction plate, said friction elements being positioned between the reaction and pressure plates and adapted to be clamped therebetween, and means for centering the friction elements with respect t the rotatable drive member, said means including a support on the drive member for the reaction plate to locate the reaction plate accurately relative to the drive member, and means associated with the reaction plate disposed in the space between the reaction plate and pressure plate and serving to position the friction elements radially of the axis of rotation of the drive member.

3. In a power transmitting mechanism,` a housing, a coupling device in the housing comprising rotatable'action and reaction members, one of said members being movable toward the other to effect engagement therebetween to render the coupling device operative, said movable member being annular and formed of distinct segments slidably supported by the otherl member, a support for said movable member, means for detachably connecting said movable member segments to said support, said housing having an opening in proximity to the movable member and coextensive with one of the segments such that the detachable means can be reached from the exterior of the housing and a segment when detached may be passed through said opening,

4. In a power transmitting mechanism, a housing, a driving member and a driven member in said housing, a plurality of segmental friction elements between said members radially arranged about the axis of rotation thereof and movable axially relative thereto, means for detachably connecting said elements at their radially outward portions to one of said members for rotation therewith, means on the other member for slidably supporting said elements at their radially inner portions, said housing having an opening in proximity to said elements and coextensive with one of said elements such that the detachable means can be reached from the exterior of the housing and a segment when detached may be passed through said opening.

5. In a power transmitting mechanism, a housing, a coupling device in the housing comprising a rotatable drive member, a plurality of drive segments detachably secured to the drive member, a plurality of segments of friction elements having a driving connection with the drive segments and slidable axially thereon, a driven member comprising a reaction plate, and a pressure plate spaced from the reaction plate, said friction elements .being positioned between the reaction and pressure plates and adapted to be clamped therebetween, the housing having an opening in proximity to the friction elements and coextensive therewith, whereby the drive segments may be detached from the drive mem-` ber and both the drive segments and segmental friction elements may be removed radially from the housing and replaced, a closure member for the opening, and means for centering the friction elements with respect to the rotatable drive member, said means including an anti-friction support on the drive member for the reaction plate to locate the reaction plate accurately relative to the drive member, and a shoulder on the reaction plate projecting into the space between the reaction plate and pressure plate, said shoulder serving to position the friction elements radially of the axis of rotation of the drive member.

' RAYMOND A. CARLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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